Paper Lanterns

November & December Update

Only 3 weeks to go until the break!

Next week (Nov 28-Dec 1):

- Monday, finishing paper lanterns 1:00 - 3:00

- Tuesday, whole school read in 2:30 - 3:00

- Wednesday, *EARLY DISMISSAL, 11:30

- Thursday, morning carolling begins

* If you would like to meet with me on the Early Dismissal Day, please contact me directly to set up a time.  I am also available anytime throughout the school year: after school; via email; or after school and weekends by phone (250) 537-1337. 

The week after (Dec 6-9):

- NO SCHOOL Monday, Dec., 5th (a Provincial Pro D day)

- Tues - Thurs carolling in the mornings continued

- Thursday RRR (regift exchange - please send in gently used items)

- Friday FIELD TRIP, pick up at 4:15 at the school, reports go home

Last week before the break (Dec 12-15):

- Mon & Tues concert practises in mornings

- Wednesday 6:30 Winter Concert 

- Thursday carolling downtown 10:45 and class party 1:00 - 3:00

Thank you for your support,

Heidi :)

Art in the Garden with Quentin Harris

$

Thanks to all who paid the $20 school fee!  

I have reduced the upcoming swimming/skating field trip Fri., Dec. 9th by $3 per child, so it will cost $15 instead of $18.   

Permission forms are going home next week, parent volunteers are needed.

Scholastic orders are due next week, but there is also the book fair next week - whatever you choose is fine with me!  I will be placing another order of books for our class that our students have chosen. 

Please send in COUNTRY GROCER reciepts, it makes a huge difference to our budget.

Thanks for all your support!

Heidi :)

P.S. There is a work party in our garden again this Sunday 1-4, unfortunately I am not able to attend this one but please come for a bit if you can!  I have also made 'sit-upons' for our class for them to sit on while they read in the garden :)

P.P.S. Tuesday is pyjama day!

Scholastic, Country Grocer & Upcoming Dates

Thank you to all who brought in the $20 school fee 

Scholastic:

I know there are pros and cons for Scholastic, but in my experience, the pros FAR outweigh the cons.  Scholastic provides SO many points and rewards, I would not be able to keep the shelves stocked with new books without it!  The main 'con' is that not all students are able to buy books, and so, to accommodate for that, I have the students go through the catalogues in class and write down their 'top 3 picks'.  From the October catalogues, I bought over $50 of books chosen by the students, who are now enjoying reading them today 

Here is an easy way to pay and order online if you prefer:

http://www.scholastic.ca/clubs/parentpay/

Country Grocer:

We are now collecting receipts from Country Grocer to go towards class funds.  If you would like to donate your receipts to the classroom, please start sending them in with your child 

Thank you for your ongoing support!

Heidi 

P.S. Upcoming dates:

November 10 Photo Retakes

November 10 Remembrance Day Assembly (parents welcome!)

November 14-15 Scholastic Book Fair (we are also doing book orders - book fair rewards go to the school library, and book order rewards go to our class, both are fabulous!)

November 15 PJ Day

November 17 School Dance

November 30 Early Dismissal – 11:30 (let me know if you would like an interview)

December 5 Pro D day (NO SCHOOL - note this is a Monday)

December 8 RRRR (whole school re-gift exchange)

December 9 Ms.K/our class swim/skate > more info to come!

Halloween

Decorating pumpkins with our Little Buddies :)

Spelling, Math & Planners

Spelling:

I'm sorry the Blue and Purple Word Sort groups didn't get started last week, I was hit with a terrible cold.  We will catch up Monday and all students should have a practice sheet at home by Tuesday :)

Math:

I am sending home the 1st "Weekly Word Problem" tomorrow, it is due Thursday.  We are using addition to solve problems with money so please find opportunities to allow your child to make purchases and calculate change if possible :)

Planners:

I will now be KEEPING Planners at school over the weekend to provide me more time to read their home reading logs and mark their weekly math word problems.

What's coming up? 

- garden work party Oct. 30

- Halloween party Oct. 31

- Nov. 10 photo retakes

- Nov. 10 Remembrance Day Assembly

- Nov. 17 school dance

- Nov. 30 early dismissal

- Mon., Dec 5 NO SCHOOL (Pro D)

- whole class "camp in" (tents set up in gym for sleepover) possibly Dec 1

- Skating and Swimming with Ms. K's class possibly Fri., Dec. 9

Wort Sorts (Spelling) Program

Dear families,

We will now be sending home a new word sort with your child each week  
One copy of the sort stays at school and another goes home in their Planner for them to practise at home (*please let me know if you need 2 copies sent home).  This program operates in 4 stages: introducing the sort in a small group with the teacher, cutting and sorting on day 2, finding the words in a crossword on day 3, and the ‘test’ (AKA inventory) on the 4th day.  

In order to work with groups individually, this rotation has been developed:

	Monday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
Introducing	RED group	GREEN group	BLUE group	PURPLE group
Sorting	PURPLE group	RED group	GREEN group	BLUE group
Crossword	BLUE group	PURPLE group	RED group	GREEN group
Inventory	GREEN group	BLUE group	PURPLE group	RED group

How can you practice word sorts at home?  
Cutting and sorting, writing words, hunting for words in books, using words in sentences, putting words in alphabetical order, and memory games (flipping words and seeing how many can be remembered).  

Students are still expected to read on school nights > thank you for filling in Home Reading Logs!  Weekly math word problems will be sent home later this month, providing homework for Reading, wRiting and aRithmetic  

Thank you for your support,

Heidi Serra

October Update :)

- school in session this Friday, October 14th, Conservancy volunteers are coming in to recap our recent trip and finish science journals

- iPad and Chief for a Day draw ballots can be sent to school or dropped off in person at the open house this Saturday

Coming up next month:

- November 10 Photo Retakes

- November 10 Remembrance Day Assembly

- November 17 School Dance

- November 30 Early Dismissal – 11:30

Popcorn Party & Fruit Basket

> Popcorn Party Thursday afternoon, MORE HEALTHY SNACKS WELCOME (students earned the party by showing caring in the classroom).

> Our fruit basket is very low.  Please send spare fruit (dried or fresh) for students that need more food.

Thank you for your support!

September Update :)

- meet the teachers night TOMORROW (Wed., Sept. 28, 4:00 - 5:00)

- photo day > Tues., Oct. 11th

- listening rocks: students can bring in one special rock for a carpet time activity (I have several but some asked if they could bring their own)

- objects for, "I Spy": we are writing our own class, "I Spy" book (working on the use of  commas).  Students are asked to bring in some small objects that they would like to have for their photo.

- Fruit Basket: our classroom has a fruit basket for students who run out of food.  It is currently full but when it runs low I will send out requests for more donations of fruit (dried or fresh).  Thanks to Wendy for the dried apples!

- thank you: Wendy, Virginia and Toccoa for helping out on our field trip yesterday! 

Today was the FIRST day EVERYONE brought their Planners!  

Thank you!

What does playtime look like?

Painting (they are helping create a more beautiful welcome wall for our ELF families).

Drawing

Building/designing (notice the small upper level that took time to design and balance with supports).

Making friends (it was their suggestion to name this photo, "making friends").

Playing games.

Role Play/Drama (rotation for small groups in the hall).

Playing with the rats & building with Lego.

What does Quiet Reading look like?  Much different from Playtime!

Weekly Schedule

Here is our weekly schedule :)  

"Integrated Studies" includes: Applied Skills, Fine Arts, Career (Goals), Health, Science, and Socials. P.E. Term 1: Hockey, Term 2: Basketball & Term 3: Soccer.

	Monday/Friday	Tuesday	Wednesday	Thursday
8:25 - 9:00	Math (pull 6 per day)	Math (pull 6 per day)	Math (pull 6 per day)	Math (pull 6 per day)
9:00 - 9:30	P.E. Skills: Hockey	P.E. Ropes/Rollers	P.E. Games	P.E. Game: Hockey
9:30 - 9:45	Carpet & Math Lesson:	Carpet & Math Lesson:	Carpet & Math Lesson:	Carpet & Math Lesson:
9:45 - 10:00	SQUIRT PM Benchmark one per day	SQUIRT PM Benchmark one per day	SQUIRT PM Benchmark one per day	SQUIRT PM Benchmark one per day
10:00 - 10:25	Recess	Recess	Recess DUTY	Recess
10:25 - 10:45	Snack	Snack	Snack	Snack
10:45 - 11:00	Writing Lesson:	Writing Lesson:	Writing Lesson:	Writing Lesson:
11:00 - 11:35	(writing)	(writing)	MUSIC	MUSIC
11:35 - 12:00	(writing)	(writing)	(writing)	(writing)
12:00 - 12:45	Lunch Recess	Lunch Recess	Lunch Recess	Lunch Recess
12:45 - 1:00	Eat & Read	Eat & Read	Eat & Read	Eat & Read
1:00 - 1:30	Centres/Garden Math Minute	Centres/Garden Math Minute	Centres/Garden Math Minute	Centres/Garden Math Minute
1:30 - 2:00	Word Sorts	Word Sorts Clean Up	Word Sorts	Word Sorts
2:00 - 2:45	Integrated Studies	library 2:00 - 2:30	Integrated Studies	Integrated & Class Meeting
2:45 - 3:00	Clean Up	2:30 WSM/ Buddies	Clean Up	Clean Up
3:00 - 3:15	Buddy Reading	Buddy Reading	Buddy Reading	Buddy Reading

Meet the Teacher Night

Wednesday, September 28, 4:00 - 5:00

Families are invited to come and meet the staff at Salt Spring Elementary :)

This is an opportunity to hear about what's happening this year at our school and meet our music teacher, principal and support staff.

Teachers will have an opportunity to introduce themselves and may break out to their classrooms to talk about their plans for this school year.

Hope to see you there!

*Field trip Monday

- boots

- hats (if sunny)

- warm jacket (waterproof if rainy weather)

- water bottle

- hearty lunch

Home Reading

Home Reading is now in their Planners :)

*Field Trip Mon., Sept. 26*

Field trip forms going home today, PLEASE SIGN AND RETURN ASAP :)

Welcome :)

What a great start!  I am very impressed with this group so far and am looking forward to pushing ahead in math and science :)
**Meeting times have been assigned and sent home for EARLY DISMISSAL DAY, Wednesday, September 21st at 11:30 am.

Teacher Contact Info

I can be reached via email at:
hserra@sd64.bc.ca
by phone at (250) 537-1337
and at the school at (250) 537-9928.

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

"A stitch in time saves nine" :)